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.opinion West German leader faces challenaes The new Christian Democratic Chancellor of West Germany, Helmut Kohl, must contend with two challenges as he attempts to revive Germany's ailing economy. The Greens, members of an ecological, antinuclear party, provide the first challenge. President Ronald Reagan's unrealistic expectations concerning the new government in Bonn is the second. Both the Greens and Mr. Reagan put Germany's economic future and 1 i. ~ * lung-ienii reiauons witn me unitea states on shaky ground. We must first consider changes in German: society. The postwar consensus on economic growth has broken down, partially as a result of high unemployment and inflation, at least by German standards. The previous coalition of Free and Social Democrats lost power because nf disn^rppmpnk. nhnnt opnnnmip rtnliov Tho v Mfy/vv?v VVVItVAtlAV J^VAiVJT JL HV present government must find solutions to Germany's economic problems or risk defeat at the next general election. Changes in German society will make Kohl's job a difficult one. Germans no longer universally value hard work and material success. They place more emphasis on enjoying their 1 _ A ml ? * ? ? ? leisure nme. inis is unaerstanaaDie, given tneir r r iuced working hours and longer vacations .This "greening" of Germany has brought issues to the surface that had received very little attention. The challenge to the Christian Democrats from the Greens is very small, since they represent a small percentage of the electorate. Even if they win some seats in the next national parliament, they will remain dwarfs in a field of political giants. Kohl should be able to find CflllltiotlC fnr riorm q mr'o J n wvswuvxu 1W1 VIV1 Iliuiljr O VV/V711U1111C UU1C1U& despite the aforementioned changes. However, Reagan can do much to change this. Reagan expects much from the new government in Bonn. He rightly views the Christian Democrats as more conservative than their predecessors. However, there are practical limits to their conservatism. Reagan expects Kohl to be more receptive to his proposals for stopping construction of the trans-Siberian pipeline. Kohl will probably disappoint him. He ujonfo nnnfrnnft< ?? 1 vtuKi/o wnuav.io iui vjfci nidii innik> uiai create jobs for German workers. Long unemployment lines, not fears of Soviet blackmail in the uncertain future, haunt him. Thus, Reagan's appeals will fall on deaf ears. One obvious danger lies in the American tpap. tion to Kohl's lack of enthusiasm. Congress might question the virtue of .committing 300,000 troops to defend a Western Europe that is apparently unwilling to defend itself. More than likely, his appeals will increase anti-American sentiment. This will strengthen the Greens and make Kohl's job more difficult. It reduces his chances of forming a stable government to solve Germany's economic problems. Despite the virtue of some of his arguments, Reagan needs to re-examine his audience and, particularly, the timing of his presentation. There is no reason to risk Germany's economic future and our long-term relations with Germanv. Whv insist that Kohl fnllnw a r>nnrco nrkf in __ ^... t t m vv/w1 k>v 1IV/V JL&l V / his or the United States' best interests? Gamecock Kditor-in-Chief i Richard Meyers j Copy Desk Chief David DeWitt Opinion Page Editor.... Leslie Kalz ! Asst. Copy Desk Chief.. Kay Bender Wire Kditor Sydne Waller l News Kditor John Braun Photo Kditor Andy Putnam Asst. News Kd.. Richard Culbertson Asst. Photo Kditor John Osborn ! Asst. News Kditor. . . Forrest Brown General Manager Ron Emler Knt. Kditor John Vaughan Adviser Mark Ethridge, Jr. Asst. Knt. Kditor Chris Handal Ad Manager Linda S. Haines Sports Kditor Johnny Boggs Business Manager . . . Jean Hatchell Asst. Sports Kditor. . 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Address letters and columns to: Opinion Page Editor, Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, Columbia, S.C. 29208. /////SSSJUSSSSSS <+$!* - rr-*v Fr: _J ?tte rs Dining direcl Editor: This letter has been written with a two-fold purpose: 1) to communicate to you the potential closing of the Top of Carolina Restaurant because of serious financial problems; and 2) a plea for your suggestions as to possible alternatives for this restaurant. Presently, and in the past, sales at the "Top" have been extremely low. About 100 persons a day visit the "Top," of which 30 to 40 are students. Because of these low sales, about $60,000 will be lost this year out of this one area. I am concerned that the university community is not using this fine facility. There are very few "landmarks" such as this around the country ? and probably not any on a college campus. However, we must face reality; either alternative ideas that would lead to a r jl! ii ^ rouiDau sporx: Editor: I have been involved with this univ< program for four years. In that time the changes, some for the good and some for t My main concern right now is the sp football. The playoffs are starting this we< won at least 60 percent of their games, requirement for these teams that mak that is that they have a 6.5 sportsmanship out of 10; in other words, on an A-F scale i This requirement is set by the peop tramural office. I think that the scale is f team that is undefeated, but they only ha should not be in the playoffs. That is the ri But folks, that is not the way it works. 1 in the playoffs this week that is below tl you explain it? Politics even at the ii probably. Thic toom " - " ' ' '" A?itj tvam uccucu uiiee ius in IIS 13SI U the playoffs, and they got a 10-7-10, r< seven,when they knew they needed a 10? ( close game? As a matter of fact, the ga time. It seems tempers flair when the gan These comments are not directed at thi who are in charge of the intramural flag! the people who make the rules and then fa For you people down in the intramural SG president re Editor: Dc you believe in students' rights? Thft fart is it rirwHj nnt ma ?, .. iivi nuuivi iu uu; Columbia City Council what students think! On Wednesday, Oct. 27, in Student Government's seventh presentation before City Council, the university was lambasted by its neighbors residing on Senate, Pendleton, Greene and Laurens streets. Although USC obtained permission to eliminate parking on Greene Street, add decorative gates and create a mall effect, Greene Street will continue to be open from 4 p.m. until 9:30 a.m. I want to reaffirm that the permanent closing of Greene Ltz Mandate and ife-Car tor asks for break-even point must be reached, or the closing of the facility is inevitable. The primary reason for suggesting closing this facility is because of the effect a loss of $60,000 can have on the entire food service program on Ti ? campus, ii can aeiimieiy miiuence prices in our other operations. This would, in effect, mean that you would be subsidizing the "Top" whether you were on the meal plan at Patterson Hall or buying a cup of coffee at Russell House. As you have probably noticed, we have increased the service hours in the operations significantly this fall. Most units are open on weekends, and the Russell House is open all day (Monday through Friday). A loss such as we are experiencing at the "Top" can have a negative impact on those service hours. I do not want to close this facility. However, I need your help with ideas jmanship ratin think the playoffs ai ersity's intramural The playoffs will be re have been many you are in, but if yo he bad. team that could no ort at hand ? flag season will be able ek for all teams that tensity of playoffs? There is only one From what I unde e thp nlavnffc onrl ? * _ j j V..U| u?u uujji uvemtsnis irom > rating (this is a 6.5 chance to play in the t would be a D). Well, what about le down at the in- ratings, say an eigl air, and if there is a 6.5? Why don't you ve a 6.2 rating, they dropped so drastica lie ? right? will not be able to c 'here will be a team me that if a rule cai le 6.5 limit. How do both ways, ntramural level ? I remember an i season, where the r iree games to make member of the opp jspectivelv. Whv a ? UU1I1 nil. ?ould it have been a (sportsmanship). Is me went into over- guy a chance, his le is a little tight. through the rest of h * team, but at those Intramural sports football program ? Why don't we just bi il to enforce them. office, what do you laffirms associi Street is viewed as a necessity by Student Government, and we will continue to work toward these ends. An item of particular interest to all students is that a representative of the Five Points merchants came to the City Council meeting and voiced his opposition to the closing of Greene Street. In this case, the reality is that USC students contribute nearly a half billion dollars to Columbia's economy, and merchants should heed the wishes of its loyal customers instead of standing in opposition to them. There is currently a resolution being formulated in the Student Senate to voice the students' displeasure with the Five Points to endorsement. suggestions and suggestions about possible alternatives that would help this area break even (based upon the present selling prices and costs, sales must more than double to break even). I have already received some suggestions, such as: 1) close during the lunch period and offer a "Special Dinner" one night per week (possibly Wednesday night); and 2) offer special catering to groups such as oi J i /i A ^ * aiuueiu wvernmeni, ureens and other student and university organizations. These are very good alternatives, and we would like to hear more. Closing of the "Top" could happen as soon as Nov. 12. This is why I need your input as soon as possible. Please write to me, Carl Chandler, c/o Saga Food Services, 1718 College Street, Columbia, SC 29208. Carl Chandler Director of Dining Services g i ileal liny less e going to be like ? runaways? I doubt it. much more intense, because if you win u lose you are out. Do you really think a t meet the requirement in the regular to cope with the extra pressures and inirstand, you said "because of this team's i their previous games, they deserve the ; playoffs." tnose teams that started out with good it, and their rating dropped to around a tell them because your sportsmanship lly and you are so close to the limit, you ompete in the playoffs? It seems fair to a work one way, it sould be able to work incident that occured last flag football nember of one team broke the jaw of a osing team. The player was ejected inramural sports because of his actions r~r -r i 1 ? it-? wen. Ian : 1 am sure 11 you nau given mis : sportmanship would have improved is games, too. imanship ? is there really such a thing? ing in the animals and play Riverbanks! Danny Mahoney Marketing senior ition's position merchants. I would like to publicly thank Councilman Rudy Barnes fo' sticking with the university through thick and mm. in addition, I would like to extend the students' thanks to Bob Davis, Steve Beckham, Vice President Dave Iiinker, Dean Marsha Duncan, Dean Harry Lightsey, Vice President Chris Vlahoplus and President James B. Holderman for their continued enthusiasm for and support of students' concerns at Carolina ? an institution that stands firm in these weak times! Ashley B. Abel Student Government President